6101_INSP_20161018

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 1 of 3

UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF LCID YW Transfer Compost X SLAS COUNTY: MITCHELL
Closed
MSWLF HHW White
goods Incin T&P FIRM PERMIT NO.: 6101-COMPOST
CDLF Tire T&P /
Collection Tire
Monofill Industrial
Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: 10/18/2016 Date of Last Inspection: 9/26/2013

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Penland School of Crafts
P.O. Box 37
Penland, NC 28765

GPS COORDINATES: N: 35.937678° W: -82.118394°

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: David Sommer, P.E., LEED AP
Director of Facilities and Grounds
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

Casara Logan, Gardener/Groundskeeper
Telephone: [phone]
[e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
Same as Facility Address.

PARTICIPANTS:
Casara Logan, Gardener, Groundskeeper
Kris Riddle – Environmental Senior Specialist - Solid Waste Section
Deb Aja – Western District Supervisor - Solid Waste Section

STATUS OF PERMIT:
Active. A Permit to Operate was issued on March 18, 2013, and shall expire on March 18, 2015. This facility previously
operated as a Demonstration Project (SWCD-61-01).

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Comprehensive Site Inspection.

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
N/A

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
None.

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 2 of 3

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

1. The Type 3 Compost facility is approved to produce compost from the Penland School of Crafts food waste (pre and
post-consumer food waste) and yard waste for use in on-campus gardens. The compost is not offered to the public.
2. The facility is located in an open field. There are no non-owned residential dwellings in the vicinity of the composting
operations.
3. Two composting methodologies are utilized – a bin system and windrow system. A bin system is used for the primary
composting of the food and yard waste. Windrows are utilized for pathogen reduction & curing. One bin of wooden pallet
construction was currently in use.
4. Food waste is placed in the bin on a base layer of carbon material (leaves, woodchips), which also line the sides to
absorb excess moisture from the waste and to reduce odors and flies.
5. The facility setbacks were maintained.
6. Ensure that the distance from the wood line to the windrows is adequate to allow for vehicle access in case of
emergency. Solid Waste Compost Rule .1404 (8) states that, “A 25-foot minimum distance is required between compost
areas and swales or berms to allow for adequate access of fire fighting equipment.”
7. There was no surface water present at the operational, compost curing, and storage areas.
8. Dust was controlled at the facility.
9. There was no evidence of erosion or movement of silt or contaminants from the site operational areas.
10. The facility is accepting wastes that it is permitted to receive.
11. Food odor was detected within a few feet of the bin. There was no odor detected around the curing areas.
12. There was no moisture/leachate present around the bin, windrows, or cure piles. As discussed during the site
inspection, sawdust can be utilized to control excess moisture around the compost bin and piles. If necessary, a small
berm can be placed downgradient of the operational area(s) to control any moisture/leachate on-site.
13. No foreign objects were observed in the windrows and cure piles.
14. Analytical results for the 2016 final compost product were provided prior to the inspection. As discussed during the
site inspection, please re-submit testing for the 2016 final compost product to include Foreign Matter Dry Weight
Percentage and Pathogen testing results, as required by the Permit to Operate 6101-COMPOST Condition Number 15 and
the Solid Waste Compost Rules (Rule .1408). Please be aware that compost cannot be utilized for distribution until it has
met the requirements set forth in the Permit to Operate 6101-COMPOST Condition Number 13 and the Solid Waste
Compost Rules (Rule .1407). If the compost does not meet these requirements it should be reintroduced to the compost
operation.
15. Temperature records were reviewed on site. Temperatures were maintained as required. As discussed during the site
inspection, consider adding more wood chips to the compost bin to increase microbial activity which may help to achieve
higher temperatures, reduced pathogens, and a higher quality product.
16. From July 2015 to June 2016 the facility received 20.5 tons of food waste, 10.3 tons of yard waste, and 4 tons of
sawdust according to the Facility Annual Report. Continue to report tonnage each year as required by your Permit to
Operate 6101-COMPOST, Condition Number 16.
17. During the previous inspection it was noted that the access road to the facility was deeply rutted. This has been
corrected and the road has been maintained to prevent erosion upgradient of the facility.
18. As discussed during the site inspection, if future site operations are to be modified in any way a new Operational Plan
may need to be submitted and approved by the Solid Waste Section.

The item(s) listed above were observed by Section staff and require action on behalf of the facility in order to come into or maintain compliance
with the Statutes, Rules, and/or other regulatory requirements applicable to this facility. Be advised that pursuant to N.C.G.S. 130A-22, an
administrative penalty of up to $15,000 per day may be assessed for each violation of the Solid Waste Laws, Regulations, Conditions of a Permit,
or Order under Article 9 of Chapter 130A of the N.C. General Statutes. Further, the facility and/or all responsible parties may also be subject to
enforcement actions including penalties, injunction from operation of a solid waste management facility or a solid waste collection service and any
such further relief as may be necessary to achieve compliance with the North Carolina Solid Waste Management Act and Rules.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 3 of 3

19. Additional technical assistance regarding composting operations may be provided by contacting Tony Gallagher -
Composting and Land Application Branch Supervisor at 919-707-8280, and/or Jorge Montezuma, Organic Recycling
Specialist at 919-707-8123.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding this inspection report.

Phone: [phone]

Kris Riddle, Environmental Senior Specialist
Division of Waste Management, NCDEQ
[e-mail]

Sent on 10/24/2016 to Casara
Logan by:
X Email Hand delivery US Mail Certified No. [ _]

Electronic Copies: David Sommer, Penland Director of Facilities and Grounds
Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor - Solid Waste Section
Jessica Montie, Compliance Officer - Solid Waste Section
Tony Gallagher, Composting and Land Application Branch Supervisor
Jorge Montezuma, Organic Recycling Specialist, DEACS

Digital photographs taken October 18, 2016, by Kris Riddle, DWM – SWS

Compost Bin and Piles - Penland